Thurston County sheriff released from hospital after two-car crash near Yelm on Sunday

Ty Vinson
·1 min read

Thurston County Sheriff Derek Sanders was released from Harborview Medical Center in Seattle in satisfactory condition late Sunday night after being involved in a two-vehicle collision near Yelm.

The other person involved, a 29-year-old Yelm man, was taken into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence while the incident is being investigated. He was scheduled to appear in court Monday afternoon.

According to previous reporting from The Olympian, the collision happened about 3:30 p.m. Sunday, April 2. Sanders was driving his department vehicle south on Lawrence Lake Road Southeast when a pickup truck traveling east on 153rd Avenue Southeast pulled in front of him, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

Sanders was airlifted to Harborview for his injuries, although he was listed in satisfactory condition at the time. The Yelm pickup truck driver was not injured.

The crash is being investigated by Washington State Patrol.

Sanders was elected last November, defeating incumbent Sheriff John Snaza.